Just book another curise for Feb 2009, did i do the right thing booking that far in advance ?

We usually book 10 to 14 months out. We have been looking at some of the last minute specials coming our way, but for us a year is good.

thanks ,,, hope many more will give pro & Cons to booking early ,,,

Nothing wrong with booking early. You get the best choice of cabins and if you need to, you also have lots of time to pay for the cruise. I really like picking my own cabin and sticking with it, and so we usually book our family cruises a year out, although sometimes it slips to 9 months or so. And then there are the sudden whim cruises, but those are a rarity.

There is plenty of time for your cruise price to fluctuate, and so you might want to keep an occasional eye on the prices just in case your agent doesn't. If the price drops you may need to prompt your agent to get the reduction for you. Fortunately I don't have that problem as my agent is wonderful about tracking price changes.

When you book early..you know you have a room on the ship....I've waited for the last minute price and the ship was sold out....so now I book early and let the price take care of it's self...Plus if you book early, you have something exciting to look forward to...Happy Cruising...

Bob E

I agree with Dave, as I discovered this, this past end of the year.

I didn't know that a person needs to be "on top" of the price you are paying, and then if you find that the price has been lowered, and you have a TA, they NEED to give you that discount.

We try to book at least 4 - 6 months out.

We booked this March for Feb 08 cruise and already booked on Mar 09 cruise.
As others have pointed out you get your pick of the cabins.

I usually try to book at least 6 months out. As has been said, better cabin choices. Plus you can lock that price point. Sometimes the prices don't come down. Last year the price dropped 4 times, so we ended up getting 2 adjustments, 1 upgrade, and an onboard credit. This year was just the opposite, the price has almost doubled. It's a win/win strategy to book early.

Dwayne

I book either as soon as I know I want to go or as soon as the cruise line allows. If the price goes down you get your price adjusted. If the price goes up your price stays at the lower rate. You can cancel or change any time without a penalty before final payment. AND you can get a better chance at the cabin that you really want. All wins in my book!

Kim

You are all saying that if you book early and the price goes down your price will be adjusted. Can someone explain more. Do you have to keep an eye on the prices or will Carnival just let you know if it does go down?? Very interesting I would like to learn more.

Thanks

If you do not ask you will not get it. You need to check the prices now and then. A good TA will do it for you, however I still check on my own.
BTW welcome to Cruise Chat

No, you have to keep an eye on the prices. Too many pax booked for Carnival to do that. Then if you notice that, or notice any free upgrades that appear on the site then give them a call.

To find out, just keep going to the Carnival site and pretend to book your cruise but just take it as far as the pricing.

Kim

Thanks for the input everyone.

Now here is another question. I am in the military and I got the military rate which was a better rate than thew previous cruiser rate was. How do I check that rate because on Carnival's website they do not have a place to check if you are military.

I booked for an NCL cruise in June for January and the price has gone up 3 times since...so booking early sometimes pays off...I just received a note from my TA for a $499 (with air) for two of the Carnival ships for the second week of Dec...but unless you live in MN it's not a deal:-)...Happy Cruising...


Bob E

quote:

Originally posted by Mike&Macaille:
Thanks for the input everyone.

Now here is another question. I am in the military and I got the military rate which was a better rate than thew previous cruiser rate was. How do I check that rate because on Carnival's website they do not have a place to check if you are military.

Hi Mike, You can always call them direct and ask for a quote. Then ask about the military rate. Try this number 1-800-327-9501. Good Luck!

Dwayne

Berick1234

A fellow minnesotan. We are in Alexandria.

we are from forest lake minnesota, i use my military discount and i was told its better then any thing else.

We usually book as far ahead as we can-after we have determined where we want to cruise and the time of year! We usually are hunting the cruiseline websites looking at the new offerings when they are posted. Our agent has booked us some great bargains over the years and we have benefitted from many price reductions and/or upgrades-as they became available.

Bon Voyage,

BillyBuzzy

Actually, I just learned this last year.

I don't know how Carnival or any other line does it, but I don't believe they "notify" you directly, if you purchase the cruise through them. I think you have to check this out for yourself.

Actually I just made reservations for next March through my TA. In the email I sent her, I mentioned (I wanted to make sure it was in "writing") that if the price should go down before we cruise, that she would make sure we get the "upgrade" or "discount."

Actually, what I did, was checked about 3, 2 1 month before you sail. If the prices go down and you have booked through Carnival (be sure and get a "name" of the person you booked through), you can email them, but I think when you "call" them, then you don't get all the hastle or the feedback of delay, that you would have through the email.

This is what I did, I called Carnival or whatever line you have booked through, "acting" like I was a "prospective customer", and in doing so, they quoted me the price of what I was looking for. You must take into consideration that there will be port charges/taxes/transfer fees "added" on to the price of the room.

If you book through a TA, they will not be checking on prices for you, so you must contact them, and tell them that the price has gone down, after checking with the cruise line.

I hope this will help. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Actually we (by me checking ever so often (the prices may NOT go down, so you just have to keep checking as it gets closer to traveling time)save about $300, which we were able to spend elsewhere.

Just as another thought....you would be better off, getting insurance to cover you, for "just in case", something might happen. I'm not trying to scare you, but twice things have happened to us, so it was worth having insurance to cover us.

I really don't know, but as I mentioned in answering before, I think I would "call" and ask, this way, you know for sure what they/you are talking about.

They want your business, so ASK questions!